Customers using Vodacom’s 3G data-connect card can upgrade to the new 3G HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) for free from April 21, the company said on Thursday.
Any customer who owns a locally purchased Vodacom 3G data-connect card may swap their card at any Vodacom approved outlet for a 3G HSDPA, on condition that they produce a proof of original purchase in South Africa.
Customers who upgraded to the HSDPA offering in the last month will also be able to receive a credit on their account by visiting their original point of purchase.
Dot Field, Vodacom’s CEO and chief communications officer, told the Mail & Guardian Online on Friday that the reason for the upgrade is because “Vodacom’s 3G service has not been in place for more than 22 months, hence our 3G customers could not upgrade to the new 3G HSDPA card.
“Current contract policy specifies upgrades to new phones in the 22nd month. Vodacom’s 3G HSDPA is a superior product, which we want our 3G customers to enjoy and experience without waiting for the terms of contract,” she said.
Vodacom’s HSDPA network offers users downlink-speeds of up to 1,9 megabytes per second, which is faster than ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) and up to five times faster than 3G.
“Dependant on Icasa [Independent Communications Authority of South Africa] approval, the market can also look forward to further reductions in certain Vodacom data tariffs in the near future,” said Vodacom in a statement.